Naval or military artillery.



BEST AVA? Qi PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904.\

G. 0. J. TOPP. NAVAL 0R MILITARY ARTILLERY.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 28. 1903- NC MODEL.

UNTTEE STATES Patented September 13, 1904.

PATENT OTTTEE.

GEORGE CHARLES JOHNSON TOPP, OF RYDE, ISLE OF WIGHT, ENGLAND.

NAVAL OR MILITARY ARTILLERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 770,200, dated September 13,1904. Application filed December 28, 1908. Serial No. 186,902. (No model.)

To all whom/ it natty concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE OHARLEs J OHN- SON TOPP, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Hyde, Isle of Vvight, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Naval or Military Artillery; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to naval and military artillery, the object of which is to increase the life of the long and costly guns of the present day. I propose to use stays of suflicient strength to counteract the tendency to deflection due to concussion when the guns are fired. I will now describe the same in reference to i the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a heavy gun fitted with suitable heavy stays and lifting gear. Fig. 2 shows a lighter gun with saddle moved forward on the gun. Fig. 3 shows a light gun also with another variation of applying the position of stays. Fig. 4 shows front view of gun with stays lying in position, drawn to a larger scale. Fig. 5 shows back or breech of gun with stays carried right round underneath, also to a larger scale.

These stays are fitted to the guns in such a way that they run from under side of the breech A, Figs. 1 and 2, over a bridge B, designed to be raised by screw or other power, and then down to under side of chase O, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, where they are secured by any convenient and suitable means, as by fitting in a tongued groove formed in the gunbarrel at points A and O, the same being hidden in the views by the thickness of the stays. I/Vhen the bridge B is raised, a powerful lifting-support is brought to bear on the chase C, so that the tendency to droop or bend is overcome,and the guns life is thereby greatly prolonged. The bridge is made in two parts. (Shown at Figs. 4 and The lower part E is a saddle that sits on the gun-barrel. This saddle is fitted with very powerful screwbolts D D, or these, if desired, can be fitted to the crown of the bridge, on which bolts and nuts G G operate to raise the crown of the bridge B. (Shown at Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and The stays run from under breech A over the bridge B to under chase O. WVhen the bridge is raised to its extreme point of tension, I fit wedges F F, Figs. 4 and 5, or other suitable means under the crown B, and when these wedges or other means are driven home the weight is taken off the lifting parts of the gear.

S S, Figs. 4 and 5, show apex of stays resting on the bridge B.

With proper attention by the help of this invention the guns may be kept in a true line of bore and serviceable even until the bore is worn out by scoring of shot or otherwise. Of course if the gun-bore gets out of true, as is the case sooner or later with present very long guns, its life for service is ended; but this method braces and supports the weak part in such a way that the gun can be kept in good working order for a much longer time than at present, and the cost of working is much reduced.

This invention enables the gunner to assist the weak part of the gun (the chase) and it is desirable that after each days firing the lifting power should be adjusted, as all metals will stretch under great strains, and thus the stays will meet any inclination there may be for deflection of chase.

By the aid of this invention, with sufficient strength of stays and lifting power, agun may be kept in true line for a much longer time under fire than without such assistance.

In new guns the stays should be fitted before use, as thereby they may be very greatly saved. Even after the gun is used up by the bore scoring or becoming unserviceable the stays and lifting-gear may be fitted on another similar gun, as they may outlive, perhaps, two guns active service.

Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what man ner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim isl. The combination in ordnance of the character described, of the gun-body, and means to prevent sagging of the gun-muzzle comprislng a brldge mounted on the gun-body, a

stay passing over said bridge and secured to" the breech and chase of the gun, means for adjusting the height of said bridge and means independent of said adjusting means for taking the strain therefrom when in final position, substantially as described.

2. The combination in ordnance of the character described, of the gun-body and means to prevent sagging of the gun-muzzle comprising an endless flexible stay looped under the breech and chase of the gun, a bridge mounted on thegun-body under said stay, means for adjusting the height of said bridge and means independent of said adjusting means for taking the strain therefrom when in final position, substantially as described.

3. The combination in ordnance of the character described of the gun-body and means to prevent sagging of the gun-muzzle comprising a bridge mounted on the gun-body consisting of a saddle and a crown, means for adjusting said crown to means independent of the adjusting means for supporting said crown when raised, and a stay passing over said crown and secured to the breech and chase of the gun, substantially as described.

a. The combination in ordnance of the character described of the gun-body and means to prevent sagging of the gun-muzzle comprising a bridge mounted on the gun-body consisting of a saddle and a crown, liftingbolts for adjusting said crown to any desired height, a wedge for independently supporting any desired height,

said crown when raised and a stay passing over said crown and secured to the breech and chase of the gun, substantially as described.

5. The combination in ordnance of the character described of the gun-body, and means to prevent sagging of the gun-muzzle comprising a flexible stay looped under the breech and chase of the gun, a bridge comprising a saddle and a crown mounted on said gun-body under said stay, means for adjusting the height of said crown, and means independent of said adjusting means for taking the strain therefrom when in final position, substantially as described.

' 6. The combination in ordnance of the character described of a gun-body and means to prevent sagging of the gun-muzzle comprising an endless flexible stay looped under the breech and chase of the gun, a bridge consisting of a saddle and a crown mounted on said gun-body and under said stay, liftingbolts for adjusting said crown whereby said stay may be kept taut under all conditions and a wedge for independently supporting said crown when raised, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature this 14th day of December, 1903, in presence of two witnesses.

. GEORGE CHARLES JOHNSON 'lOll.

Witnesses:

W. RoBERTs S'roAxEs, R. A. SHEPPARD. 

